What Is Network Configuration Management (NCM)?

Network configuration management? It's like the Swiss Army knife of IT. Network configuration management (NCM) is a broad term for the organization and management of a computer network. All sorts of networks, including local area networks, wireless networks and virtual networks, need maintenance, modification, repair and general monitoring. Network configuration management involves collecting information about hardware devices, software programs and other network elements to support administration and troubleshooting. NCM often describes managing changes to a network's configuration over time. It could involve maintaining an inventory of devices connected to the network and their configuration settings and documenting how they are connected in different formats. It can also include configuring new devices, modifying existing machines' configuration settings to meet new requirements, or changing conditions within an organization's IT environment. When you're managing a network, you have to be able to adapt quickly to emergencies and make maintenance and repair processes more efficient. That's why it's essential to strengthen security and build versatility into networks to withstand challenges like potential downtime and errors within a system. The specifics of network configuration management have to do with the setup of your network. For example, if you're using an application-aware network or other intelligent networks, you may need additional sophisticated network configuration management tools. What if you could manage your network like a boss? Well, you can. Network configuration management ensures that your network and all its components work efficiently. It's about keeping everything running smoothly, so you can get stuff done. It's also about ensuring that when you make changes to your hardware or software, those changes don't negatively impact the network's functionality. Best practices around configuration management involve The proper deployment of resources, The manipulation of IT business processes. Issues like versatility and scalability for end-user support. Companies like IBM and Cisco offer particular network configuration management tools that will help to provide information on device hardware, changes in hardware or software that may change network functionality, and more!